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In the race to limit global warming to 1.5°C, one crucial element has been largely under-addressed: our lifestyles. While renewable energy, electric vehicles and green technologies dominate the climate policy headlines, the fundamental way we live – what we eat, how we travel, the size of our homes, the frequency of our air travel – plays a key role in determining our collective carbon footprint.

This was the starting point for the EU 1.5°…

Artificial intelligence (AI) and its environmental impacts have been increasingly under discussion since ChatGPT, and other similar AI models have become accessible to everyone. Today’s job markets are more and more focused on efficiency, which AI provides, but what is the real cost of this efficiency?

Below, we share the thoughts, and even more importantly, practice of Gergely Litkai, comedian, scriptwriter, and, well, we can probably say green influencer, on how he manages not to fly, and since when he gave up flying almost entirely.

As the world navigates an era of geopolitical upheaval and shifting priorities, the challenge of promoting sustainable lifestyles becomes more complex. In December last year, the EU 1.5° Lifestyles project invited 37 policymakers and other stakeholders to a co-creation workshop to reflect on mainstreaming sustainable lifestyles in the current context of increasing societal and political polarization, highlighting both barriers and opportunities…

Our homes have been getting bigger. Over the past two decades, the average per capita living space in Europe has grown significantly. While more space may seem like an indicator of prosperity, larger homes mean higher energy use, greater material consumption, and increased carbon emissions. Since the 1.5°C-aligned living space is around 30 m2, living smaller is a powerful solution if we are serious about reducing our environmental footprint. 

In…

This could be a question asked by a circular economy expert in any of the EU 1.5° Lifestyles project discussions about policies and tools for promoting and implementing low carbon lifestyles. And why not, because 1.5° lifestyles and a circular economy are mutually supportive approaches that share a common goal. While the question of the circularity of materials is easier to answer, food is a different type of resource. Discussions about the…

Karola and Henri, a couple living in Estonia, are taking a practical approach to sustainability. Their home, a 24-square-meter Tiny House, proves how small-scale living can minimise environmental impact while building a connection to nature, community, and personal values. This lifestyle shift is rooted in a deliberate departure from traditional consumerism. “The world can only change as much as we ourselves can change,” Henri reflects. By…

At Christmas, families gather, tables overflow with delicacies, and homes fill with decorations and gifts. While decorations, gifts, food, and travel create a festive atmosphere, they also come with an environmental cost. Fortunately, a more eco-friendly Christmas doesn't have to be a dull one. Thoughtful choices can create a meaningful celebration where the magic remains intact, and the planet benefits. In many cases, reducing your carbon…

What is a 1.5° holiday? Perhaps it could best be described as an eco- and socially-conscious, green and responsible holiday. It is when we try to create a festive atmosphere, prepare food and drink, and organise care and gift-giving, while being mindful of our environmental and social impact. At GreenDependent, we've been calling it a small footprint holiday for years.

Research universities like Leiden University aim to integrate research into teaching, which is believed to benefit the students’ learning experiences. Naturally, some researchers, like myself, are simultaneously teachers. Research can be integrated into teaching in various ways, and what is most appropriate will differ from course to course. My course “Sustainability Analysis in Python”, which is offered to students in the MSc Industrial Ecology…